ParentDishhttp://www.parentdish.comParentDishhttp://www.parentdish.com/media/feedlogo.gifParentDishhttp://www.parentdish.comen-usCopyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Suspended Teacher Finds Himself in Ungodly Messhttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/17/suspended-teacher-finds-himself-in-ungodly-mess/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/17/suspended-teacher-finds-himself-in-ungodly-mess/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/17/suspended-teacher-finds-himself-in-ungodly-mess/#commentsFiled under: ,

canadian teacher

Is it OK for a teach to preach? Credit: Getty Images

God is reportedly deciding whether to turn a Canadian teacher into a pillar of salt or simply rain sulfur down upon him for allegedly exposing children to religious perspectives other than their own.

Meanwhile, members of the Hamilton-Wentworth School Board in Ontario have suspended teacher John Orme and sent him home because, seriously, you don't want to be anywhere near this guy when the sulfur hits the fan.

That stuff stings.

Orme teaches English and history at Gordon Price School, where, the Spectator newspaper in Ontario reports, he exposed his students to the lyrics of "Dear God," a 1986 hit for the British band XTC. "Dear God" is not the kind of gushing fan mail the Almighty is used to receiving.

"I won't believe in heaven and hell," the song goes. "No saints, no sinners, no devil, as well. No pearly gates, no thorny crown. You're always letting us humans down. The wars you bring, the babes you drown. Those lost at sea and never found. It's the same the whole world 'round. The hurt I see helps to compound that Father, Son and Holy Ghost is just somebody's holy hoax."

Not only did this tune not make it into the latest Lutheran hymnal, the Spectator reports it also hurt 12-year-old Kelsey Griffith's feelings. When she claimed Orme called upon her to defend her belief in God, her mother Amanda pitched a holy fit.

That brought the wrath of the school board down upon Orme, who is in a sort of administrative purgatory until Judgment Day -- or the next school board meeting.

Superintendent Mag Gardner tells the Spectator she's sympathetic to parents' concerns, but there may be more to the situation than meets the eye. Some parents agree.

"It has been blown out of proportion," Wendy Hine, whose 12-year-old daughter is in the class, tells the Spectator. "You have an excellent teacher who really, really has a good connection with the kids. This is now affecting their education."

Hine adds it is ridiculous that all this fuss arose from one parent's complaint.

"This one parent and one student spoke for all of us and I don't think that's very fair," she tells the newspaper. "All of the other parents need to be heard."

Gardner tells the Spectator she suspects Orme's students will one day recover from their brush with new wave British punk.

"We're confident that the school will be able to move on," she adds. "We have a lot of faith in those students."

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]]>canadiancanadian teacherdear godsuspended teacherteacherteaching religionxtcTom HendersonTue, 17 May 2011 14:30:00 ESTBoy Says He Has Been to Heaven, Where Everyone Has Wingshttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/21/boy-says-he-has-been-to-heaven/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/21/boy-says-he-has-been-to-heaven/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/21/boy-says-he-has-been-to-heaven/#commentsFiled under: ,



Todd and Sonja Burpo may have believed an angel was looking over their 4-year-old son, who survived a life-threatening burst appendix.

Colton Burpo, now 11, says it's true.

"A few angels, they came, picked me up and I was looking right at Jesus," Colton, from the small town of Imperial, Neb., tells "Today."

After 17 days in the hospital, the boy started to talk about things he could not have known about, "Today" reports, including a miscarriage suffered by his mother, prayers his father made during Colton's surgery and meeting "Pop," his great-grandfather.

"I was just sitting by the Holy Spirit, and then this guy comes up to me and says, 'are you Todd's son?' I said yes. He says, 'Well, I'm his grandfather," Colton tells "Today." "... Pop, he was very big, huge wings, he had curly hair, big smile and he was really nice."

The experience led Todd Burpo, a pastor, to write the New York Times best-selling nonfiction book "Heaven is for Real."

"He could tell me where I was while he was in surgery," Todd Burpo tells "Today." "The surgeons couldn't tell me that. The nurses couldn't. My wife couldn't tell me where I was praying but he could tell me."

Sonja Burpo says her son told her angels sang to him.

"There's a lot of colors, there are a lot of people and a lot of animals," Colton says, describing Heaven.

He also says everyone in Heaven has wings -- his were a bit smaller than other's, and that no one there is old.

"I like that part," Todd Burpo says.

Todd Burpo says Colton's story has inspired so many people because of "hope, healing -- they know what they have to look forward to," he tells "Today."

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]]>afterlifeboy saw heavenBoySawHeavenheavenheaven is for realHeavenIsForRealLesley KennedyMon, 21 Mar 2011 11:35:00 ESTVaccine Exemptions for Religious Reasons May Face Stricter Guidelines in N.J.http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/16/vaccine-religious-exemption/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/16/vaccine-religious-exemption/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/16/vaccine-religious-exemption/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

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vaccine religious exemption

New Jersey laws may be getting stricter with regard to religious exemption from required vaccines. Credit: Getty

With the autism-vaccine connection disproved last year, you would think fewer parents would be objecting to having their children vaccinated.

Yet, the resurgence of serious, preventable illnesses -- including whooping cough and meningitis -- is testament to the fact that even greater numbers are seeking exemption from vaccines for their children.

But parents who seek an exemption from vaccinations for their children based upon religious reasons would have to comply with stricter guidelines under a new bill that passed the New Jersey state Senate March 15, NJ.com reports.

The bill, approved by a vote of 6 to 1, would require parents to attest that vaccination requirements conflict with the student's "bona fide" religious practices or principles.

"By adding the words 'bona fide,' we certainly would be suggesting that you should not use the religious exemption just as an excuse,' " the bill's sponsor, state Sen. Loretta Weinberg, tells NJ.com. "The overall aim of this bill is to get children immunized."

Like many states, New Jersey has seen a significant increase in the number of parents requesting religious exemption for their children. In fact, the numbers have more than doubled -- with 3,865 recorded during the 2010-11 school year, up from 1,644 in 2005-06, the news outlet reports.

In 2007, the New Jersey immunization rate for children dropped to 62 percent from 76 percent. This was the year New Jersey became the first state to mandate the flu vaccine for children ages 6 months to 59 months who attended preschool or day care, NJ.com reports.

In addition to influenza, New Jersey requires school children to be vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, measles, rubella, mumps, varicella (chicken pox), haemophilus influenzae B (HiB), hepatitis B, pneumonia and meningitis -- all serious illnesses that could be life-threatening.

Fran Gallagher, executive director of the New Jersey chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, tells NJ.com many doctors report that parents claim religious exemption from vaccines, but then are selective about which ones their children don't receive.

"I think it has been abused to the point where it puts the public at risk," Gallagher tells the site.

Critics of the new bill claim it is unconstitutional because the government cannot legally rule on whether or not a person's beliefs are legitimate. They also are concerned the phrase "bona fide" would only cover those who belong to an organized, established religion, the news outlet reports.

"When you say 'bona fide,' it draws to mind that someone could challenge what is bona fide, what is not bona fide. And that is unconstitutional," New Jersey Assemblywoman Charlotte Vandervalk tells NJ.com.

Vandervalk sponsored a bill, which was blocked in the state Senate last week, that would have allowed parents to exempt their children from vaccinations based simply on conscientious objection.

Weinberg says the New Jersey policy on religious exemptions would not change if the bill passes; it would simply require parents to demonstrate that their religious convictions are sincere, the news outlet reports.

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]]>meningitisnew jerseyNewJerseyvaccinationvaccinationsvaccinevaccine religious exemptionvaccineswhooping coughWhoopingCoughHoney BerkWed, 16 Mar 2011 15:30:00 ESTWhy Lent Is Good for Your Familyhttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/16/why-lent-is-good-for-your-family/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/16/why-lent-is-good-for-your-family/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/16/why-lent-is-good-for-your-family/#commentsFiled under: , ,

For many, the word Lent conjures up images of stern nuns, hair shirts and Catholic schools circa 1951, but it's a ritual and tradition American families need now, more than ever.

In our family, Ash Wednesday (the first day of Lent) marks the beginning of a 40-day challenge to give up stuff we love. Despite the ritual pre-Ash Wednesday dinner discussions ("What are you giving up this year?"), year after year, we always end up with the same boring and predictable sacrifices. Mom: coffee, dessert. Dad: beer. Kids: candy.

This year is different.

Instead of using this holy season as a personal weight-loss boot camp where I purge my pantry and refrigerator of all the things I shouldn't be eating anyway, our family is attempting to work on more serious virtues: gratitude, patience, love.

It started with an episode of "60 Minutes" my mom told me about, featuring the heartbreaking stories of middle-class American families dealing with job loss, foreclosure and homelessness.

My kids watched an articulate 12-year-old girl talk about the embarrassment and humiliation of sleeping in the family minivan and praying her friends wouldn't recognize her dad holding up a handmade cardboard sign on the side of the road -- "Family of 5. Please Help."

As my children watched, I realized this brave little girl accomplished what my countless reminders about the starving children in Africa could not: She inspired in my kids a genuine spirit of gratitude for the things they commonly take for granted. Things like our house, electricity, lunch money and parents blessed with jobs.

The conversations these touching stories generated opened my kids' hearts to take on bigger, and more meaningful, sacrifices this Lenten season; sacrifices that I hope will have more lasting and character-building effects.

One of our kids is challenging himself to be more patient by not getting angry when his little sister (our resident teaser) provokes him. My 6- and 11-year-oldd are giving up television and devoting more time to reading. The whole family has made a Lenten commitment to be more grateful by counting our blessings each evening during prayer time and taking on a charity project.

From obesity to consumerism and an epidemic of debt, there's no question we live in an age of excess. What family couldn't benefit from a period of reflection, self denial, charity and prayer?

So, bust out the purple candles, carve time out for family prayer, download the "stations of the cross for kids," and don't forget about meatless Fridays and Friday night fish fry (if you're blessed to live in Wisconsin!).

Lent is an ancient tradition tailor-made for the problems of a modern world and busy families. Sure, it's old school, but it's never been more relevant ... or needed.

Share your Lenten thoughts and traditions.

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]]>easterlentreligionRachel Campos-DuffyWed, 16 Mar 2011 15:00:00 ESTShould Schools Be Teaching Creationism?http://www.parentdish.com/2011/02/08/should-schools-be-teaching-creationism/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/02/08/should-schools-be-teaching-creationism/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/02/08/should-schools-be-teaching-creationism/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Teaching creationism in schools

An apple for the teacher, or Eve? Credit: Getty Images

Evolution. Creationism. Unlike chocolate and peanut butter, these are not typically thought of as two great tastes that taste great together. (You also don't eat them, but you know what I mean.)

The New York Times reports that despite numerous rulings in federal courts that teaching creationism in schools is unconstitutional, a survey by the journal Science found "just 28 percent of biology teachers consistently follow the recommendations of the National Research Council to describe straightforwardly the evidence for evolution and explain the ways in which it is a unifying theme in all of biology." Also, 13 percent of bio teachers "explicitly advocate creationism," using "at least an hour of class time presenting it in a positive light."

This issue raises numerous questions, and of course inflames passions on both sides. (Discussions involving religion have a way of dong that.) I'm wondering not only what ParentDish readers think about the idea of teaching creationism in school, but what's happening in your child's classroom. Are their teachers among the seemingly small minority who follow the National Research Council recommendations to teach only the theory of evolution? Or does creationism consistently find its way into the lesson plan?

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]]>chatterboxcreationismeducationevolutionreligionschoolscienceBrett SingerTue, 08 Feb 2011 13:02:00 ESTWho Decides a Child's Religion in a Divorce?http://www.parentdish.com/2011/01/27/religion-divorce/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/01/27/religion-divorce/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/01/27/religion-divorce/#commentsFiled under: ,

religion divorce

After you and your spouse split, who gets to make the religious decisions? Credit: Getty Images

The Chicago Sun-Times has a story that proves the old adage about truth being stranger than fiction. Here's the basics: exotic dancer marries the manager of the club where she performs. They change careers, have a kid, then get divorced. Each gets remarried to someone else. The mom becomes a "devout Hasidic Jew," according to the story. Now they're in court fighting over their child's religious upbringing.

Clearly this is a question with no clear answer. Still, I think it's an interesting one. Who gets to decide what religion a child will follow after a divorce, especially when one parent converts to a new religion that is more inflexible than others? This particular couple had so much trouble figuring it out they ended up in court. What would you do?

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]]>chatterboxreligionBrett SingerThu, 27 Jan 2011 10:37:00 ESTWould You Want the 10 Commandments Displayed at Your Child's School?http://www.parentdish.com/2011/01/21/would-you-want-the-10-commandments-displayed-at-your-childs-sch/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/01/21/would-you-want-the-10-commandments-displayed-at-your-childs-sch/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/01/21/would-you-want-the-10-commandments-displayed-at-your-childs-sch/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

10 Commandments

Thou shalt not display at school? Credit: Rob Sheridan, Flickr

The Giles County School Board in Virginia recently voted to display the 10 Commandments at area schools. Many parents complained, and the displays were removed. Then some schools put them back.

This has the potential to become a battle of biblical proportions. Over at local news website Roanoke.com, one commenter writes: "Freedom of religion means freedom from religion. If those parents, students and residents need to be reminded of what the ten commandments are, they ought to carry a wallet card." And from the opposite side of the church aisle: "I am totally behind the school board in placing these 'commandments' back where my son can be reminded daily of the true values that are so important in these times that we live in now. If people don't want to see them, don't read them!!!"

What do you think? Is it wrong to display the 10 Commandments, a religious document, at a public school? Or is this much ado about nothing?

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]]>10 commandments10CommandmentsbibleeducationPublic SchoolPublicSchoolreligionschoolBrett SingerFri, 21 Jan 2011 09:46:00 ESTMuslim Girl Back on Basketball Court After Being Benched for Wearing Headscarfhttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/01/20/muslim-girl-back-on-basketball-court-after-being-benched-for-wea/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/01/20/muslim-girl-back-on-basketball-court-after-being-benched-for-wea/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/01/20/muslim-girl-back-on-basketball-court-after-being-benched-for-wea/#commentsFiled under: ,

A 12-year-old Muslim girl, benched and forced to miss the first half of her playoff basketball game because of the religious headscarf she wears, is back on the court in full hijab.

A CBS Baltimore TV station reports a referee pulled Maheen Haq, a seventh grader from Hagerstown, Md., out of the Jan. 15 game, saying her headwear posed a safety threat. However, the girl was allowed to play the second half wearing the hijab after a league administrator granted her a religious exemption.

"I was upset a little bit 'cause I really wanted to play and I enjoy playing basketball," Maheen tells CBS.

But her mother says there was more to it.


"My daughter's heart was broken and I didn't want to break other hearts, as well," Anila Haq tells ABC.

Maheen was only able to go back on the court after her parents assumed liability for any injuries that might occur as a result of the hijab.

The team volunteered to forfeit the game, and parents of her teammates are expressing their outrage with the situation.

"We were very upset when we heard about it because she has been able to play the entire time and there's never been a problem," Connie Cline, a teammate's mother, tells CBS.

But officials from the Mid-Maryland Girls' Basketball League say the referee was just doing what he had to do, because there was no request on file that would allow Maheen to wear the scarf.

There is now.

"He was right to do what he did," Daphnie Campbell, league coordinator, tells CBS.

Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesperson for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, tells the Huffington Post there are hijabs with tear-away strips designed for sports that the girl could wear. He says cases like these can usually be solved with cooperation from both sides.

The team's coach says he regrets the incident.

"I do feel that some people were offended or emotions were hurt, and that's not what we're here for," Mark Hershner tells CBS. "We're here to learn sports and maybe some life skills along the way."

The basketball league is now specifying in its bylaws that any exceptions to the uniform rules need to be put in writing by the child's parent, Campbell tells ABC.

"In no way, shape or form are we trying to discriminate against her," Campbell tells the network.

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]]>basketballhijabmuslimMary Beth SammonsThu, 20 Jan 2011 13:40:00 ESTShould a Divorced Parent Be Able to Veto Home Schooling?http://www.parentdish.com/2011/01/07/should-a-divorced-parent-be-able-to-veto-home-schooling/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/01/07/should-a-divorced-parent-be-able-to-veto-home-schooling/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/01/07/should-a-divorced-parent-be-able-to-veto-home-schooling/#commentsFiled under: ,

Can a divorced parent say no to the other parent home schooling their child? Credit: Getty


Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is not entirely human. She is a (dramatic pause) sorcerer.

This is a bad thing.

Women are not supposed to be sorcerers. They are supposed to be docile and submissive. This one reason a woman should never, ever, be president.

Such opinions trouble Martin Kurowski of Meredith, N.H. He worries about how Amanda, his 11-year-old daughter, is being home-schooled by her mother.

Brenda Voydatch is a fundamentalist Christian who holds what Kurowski feels are some pretty wiggy views. But what can he do?

Can a divorced parent veto home schooling by the custodial parent?

That is the question before justices of the New Hampshire Supreme Court. And whatever legal precedent they set could have far-reaching consequences for divorced parents fighting similar battles across the country.

Voydatch's relgious views aside, Kurowski is concerned his daughter is growing up in a socially isolated environment without anyone to challenge her mother's opinions.

A lower court was convinced. In 2009, Amanda was ordered to attend public school. Her mother appealed the decision to the state's high court.

Religious groups and home-school advocates having been lining up behind Brenda Voydatch.

"If the trial court's unqualified opinion were allowed to stand, this case could become a model for other courts around the state to follow. This result would harm home-schoolers across the state and potentially across the nation," the Christian Science Monitor quotes from a brief submitted in support of Voydatch by the Home School Legal Defense Association in Purcellville, Va.

Voydatch and her supporters say the father, an Episcopalian, is prejudiced against her more fundamentalist Christian theology. Many of Voydatch's controversial opinions are reflected in educational material she obtained from Bob Jones University, a fundamentalist Christian College in Greenville, S.C.

"The court's ruling puts all New Hampshire parents and children of faith at risk of losing their constitutional rights whenever one parent is simply willing to claim that a former spouse is too religiously rigid, and that rigidity affects the first parent's relationship with their child," Voydatch's brief says.

Kurowski's lawyer, Joshua Gordon, argues this is simply a case of two parents who have religious differences. Both parents' views should be respected, he tells the Monitor, and sending the girl to public school is a reasonable compromise.

The moral of the story seems to be that divorced parents need to have a clear and unequivocal parenting plan.

Brenda Voydatch's attorneys argue the burden is on Kurowski to prove Amanda is being significantly harmed, for the court to order a modification of the original plan.

However, if the five justices decide the plan is too vague, they can compel Amanda to attend public school if they feel it's in her best interest.

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]]>custodydivorcehome schoolHomeSchoolTom HendersonFri, 07 Jan 2011 14:30:00 ESTHow to Find the Light in an Interfaith Marriagehttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/12/28/interfaith-marriage/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/12/28/interfaith-marriage/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/12/28/interfaith-marriage/#commentsFiled under: , ,

interfaith marriage

Christmas lights or a menorah? Different religions don't have to be a big deal in a family. Credit: Corbis

You're an Irish Catholic school teacher who falls in love with a Jewish cab driver/aspiring novelist at a New York City bus stop.

Naturally, complications ensue.

This is the premise of "Bridget Loves Bernie," a sitcom that appeared briefly on CBS in 1972. It appeared briefly, network executives say, because of a flood of letters from people upset about a Catholic-Jewish romance.

Like that's anything new. A Catholic girl falling for a Jewish boy was the subject of the Broadway play "Abie's Irish Rose" in 1922. It became a radio show in 1942, with Bud Collyer (who was also the voice of Superman) as the Jewish title character, Abie Levy.

People just assume interfaith marriages will result in conflict, drama and sometimes even hijinks and hilarity. If nothing else, goes the age-old question, how will they raise the children?

It's really not a big deal in most families.

Francine Shetterly of Polk County, Ore., is Jewish. Her husband Lane, a former Oregon state representative, is Lutheran.

You might think Christmas would present a problem in the Shetterly house. Hardly. The family celebrates Hannukah and Christmas equally.

"The entire month seems like one big holiday," Francine Shetterly said in a 2004 interview for her hometown newspaper, the Polk County Itemizer-Observer.

People naturally tend to marry partners with whom they have a lot in common, including shared religious and spiritual beliefs. And if you rarely stray beyond the comfort of your own social circle, you are more likely to find such a person.

When people from different religious traditions get together, their chances of staying together are bleak. Reliable statistics are hard to find, but most say at least half of interfaith marriages end in divorce.

Hold the phone. Don't 50 percent of all marriages end in divorce?

Maybe people in interfaith marriages roll the dice and take their chances along with everyone else. In fact, there are statistics to suggest your chances of staying in a marriage are even grimmer if you marry within your faith -- especially if you happen to be a fundamentalist Christian.

Forget all that talk about family values. The family that prays together doesn't necessarily stay together. A study by the religious Barna Research Group concluded divorces among Christians describing themselves "born again" were 27 percent higher than they were in other Christian churches.

Agnostics and atheists had the lowest overall divorce rate at 21 percent.

Tips for working through conflicts of an interfaith marriage can be found religioustolerance.org. Some suggestions from the website include:

  • Be realistic. Almost no one in the throes of falling in love thinks the relationship will end, but half of them do. Be realistic and get a lot of premarital counseling.
  • Tackle interfaith problems directly. Love doesn't conquer all. Neither does direct, blunt and honest communication. Between the two, however, the latter stands the best shot. Remember that the person you need to be honest with the most is yourself. Truly assess how important the differences are to you -- or will be once the passions of falling in love have subsided.
  • Consider the in-laws. Parents often have valuable life experiences that can inform your decisions. Of course, they can also be gigantic pains in the you-know-what. Just remember it's up to you to make the final determination.
  • Plan in advance. Don't wait until the baby is born to decide whether he or she should be raised Muslim or Wiccan.
  • Take an interfaith tour. "Interfaith tours are becoming increasingly popular, particularly in Israel," travel writer Judi Dash notes. "Jewish, Christian and sometimes Muslim participants get a taste of each others' religious traditions by exploring holy and historically significant sites."
Related: Raising children without religion

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]]>evergreenholidaysinterfaith-holidaysinterfaith-marriagesreligionTom HendersonTue, 28 Dec 2010 08:00:00 ESTI Gave My Nanny a Hijab for Christmashttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/12/23/i-gave-my-nanny-a-hijab-for-christmas/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/12/23/i-gave-my-nanny-a-hijab-for-christmas/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/12/23/i-gave-my-nanny-a-hijab-for-christmas/#commentsFiled under: ,

Illustration by Dori Hartley


"So I converted today," my 23-year-old American Italian au pair texted me on her day off. When she had left earlier that day, she mentioned going to see a mosque with her Muslim friend.

"Ha-ha," I texted back with a snort, taking a quick break from my gift-wrapping. "How funny."

Then I scratched my head and added, "You're kidding, right?"

"Nope," Brittany texted back. "I'm serious. I hope that's OK with you?"

Neither my Italian husband, who proudly brands himself a pagan thrown out of Catholic school, nor I, a Russian-Jewish atheist, knew what to say. We live in Astoria, an ethnically diverse New York City neighborhood with Irish pubs and hookah bars that offer up water pipes instead of alcohol and play Middle-Eastern pop instead of American rock. We celebrate Chanukah with my family, truck loads of gifts from my husband's on Christmas and go for Turkish coffee and baklava on Ramadan nights. We respect every religion equally and diligently follow none.

At her nanny interview earlier this year, Brittany described herself as a lapsed Catholic. An upbeat, self-sufficient Jersey girl, she wore dresses that barely covered her backside and shirts that failed to clothe her belly. She wanted out of her small town. We offered free room and board in the big city, with 400 bucks weekly for the tender loving care of our 3-year-old. Within a month, Brittany discovered hookah bars in the Little Egypt enclave and became a regular, bringing her Jersey friends along.

Now she found Allah.

"Is it still OK to give you Christmas gifts?" I texted her. She had her right to theological choices, but I had to plan for the holidays.

"Hell yeah," Brittany replied, the four-letter word apparently not conflicting with her new faith. "Nothing's changed. I just should wear modest clothes and, if I want to, a headscarf. They call it a hijab."

Next morning, when Brittany emerged from her room in a bright fuchsia headscarf tightly pinned around her head exactly like the Little Egypt denizens wear theirs, she rendered me speechless. If I respected all religions alike, I should've had no problem with Brittany swathing her head in a pink halo. But it felt odd.

"You said you didn't have to wear it," I accosted her.

"I'm gonna try to get used to it," she replied. "Everyone in the hookah bar said I looked pretty."

"But I like your hair," I started, and suddenly realized what my problem was. I was neither upset Brittany converted nor afraid she'd expose my children to Islam, because our extended families would inevitably introduce them to Christianity and Judaism while hubby and I would devotedly practice irreligion at home.

But I was upset Brittany chose to cover her wild mane with a piece of cloth in the name of dubious modesty and because of a hookah schmuck's compliment. While women all over the world fought against hijabs, burkas and abayas, my American born-and-bred au pair was willing to don and uphold this very token of female oppression. Even as a fashion statement, it felt wrong to me. When travelling Jordan a few years ago, I excitedly tried on the full Islamic gear in a Bedouin camp. I looked authentic in the long embroidered dress, but, staring in the mirror with my face covered, even I couldn't tell it was me. I bought the dress but not the hijab. The world deserved to see my face and my long blond hair. The world deserved to see Brittany's black curls.

I realized I had rattled this aloud, but I couldn't shut up. "Maybe it would make sense if you were raised a Muslim or wore it to attend a religious ceremony," I ranted. "But, I'm sorry, I don't want my children to grow up thinking that a woman should hide her beauty from the world."

I finally stopped, unsure to what extent I insulted my nanny and her new religion. Brittany was punctual, responsible and never lost anything. I didn't want her to leave. But I couldn't let Allah or any other deity move into our secular home either.

Brittany pulled out her pins and rid herself of her pink nimbus.

"Al'right," she said simply. "I'll save it for the mosque."

I took a deep breath of relief. The mosque was OK with me. I had covered my hair and taken off my shoes to enter the Blue Mosque in Istanbul out of respect. Brittany could wear her hijab to worship whenever she wanted.

The next evening, after buying Christmas presents for our Italian kin and Chanukah chatchkas for the Jewish mishpucha, I wandered into the Cairo Fashions store and purchased two beautiful headscarves, pashmina for winter and silk for summer. I wrapped the Islamic goods into glossy paper featuring Santa riding reindeers through the snow and slipped them under the tree to be opened on the day the shepherds of Nazareth rejoiced the birth of Jesus Christ.

Dear Hashem, Jesus, Allah, I pray she likes them.

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]]>Lina Zeldovich-RozmanThu, 23 Dec 2010 09:00:00 ESTFostering a Sense of Wonder Helps Kids Become Spiritually Curioushttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/12/10/fostering-a-sense-of-wonder-helps-kids-become-spiritually-curiou/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/12/10/fostering-a-sense-of-wonder-helps-kids-become-spiritually-curiou/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/12/10/fostering-a-sense-of-wonder-helps-kids-become-spiritually-curiou/#commentsFiled under: ,

spiritually curious kid picture

Is your child spiritually curious? Credit: Corbis

When the Rev. Matthew Johnson-Doyle's 3-year-old daughter asks questions about death, the minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church in Rockford, Ill., responds to all of them.

For Johnson-Doyle, the conversations are an opportunity to encourage his daughter's spiritual growth.

He shares his own views about dying as well as those of other faiths. He's not afraid to tell her that he doesn't have all the answers.

"It's better to say we don't know," he tells ParentDish. "I tell her: 'We just keep trying to figure it out."'

If you address spiritual questions with children, they will be OK with a lack of concrete answers, adds Carrie Brown-Wolf, author of "Soul Sunday: A Family's Guide to Exploring Faith and Teaching Tolerance."

"We really don't know, and kids know we don't know," she says. "So to ask questions along with them is an honest approach."

Involving kids in discussions that have no answers will help their spirituality evolve, she says.

Fostering spirituality is key to helping kids grow into caring, imaginative and motivated adults, adds Karen-Marie Yust, an associate professor of Christian education at Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, Va.

"Spirituality is important because children need a sense that the world is bigger than they are," she says. "Spirituality is the capacity to wonder about things around you."

ParentDish sought advice from numerous religious experts on how to feed children's spiritual curiosity. Here are their tips:

  • "Take a moment to teach children how to listen to others speaking. We need to listen as much as we talk," Imam Yahya Hendi, Georgetown University, Washington D.C.
  • "Be intentional about doing things to help others and let children know we do this because this is what we believe Christ taught us to do," Diane Smith, children's ministry strategist for the Virginia Baptist Mission Board, Richmond, Va.
  • "Help a child develop a sense of the other -- as in not everybody is the same as I am. The sense of other leads to empathy and sympathy, and leads to respect for diversity," Shirley Morgenthaler, distinguished professor of education at Concordia University Chicago, which is affiliated with the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.
  • "Spend time together in nature," Catherine Stonehouse, dean of the school of practical theology, Asbury Theological Seminary, Wilmore, Ky.
  • "Don't pretend to know everything. That's the opportunity to work together to look for answers. The child will see that the parent is always searching, and that's a gift," Philip Gorrasi, associate superintendent for mission effectiveness for the Archdiocese of New York.
  • "Give children a sense of the variety of the world. Helping them see the variety of possibilities in the world gives them lots of material to wonder about," Karen-Marie Yust, author of "Real Kids, Real Faith: Practices for Nurturing Children's Spiritual Lives."
  • "Expose them to as many faiths as possible. Even if you and your partner share the same faith tradition, affirm (children's) innate curiosity by introducing them to various faith traditions," Steve McSwain, author and interfaith speaker.
  • "Avoid dogma that children should follow something because 'I said so.' Introduce children to spiritual practices in day to day life, such as prayers or recitation of Holy verses to begin the day, mentally chanting God's Name during routine activities, talking about our day to God before going to bed, etc., so children can first-hand experience spiritual purity and divinity," Bhavna Shinde Hurley, Forum for Hindu Awareness in Fairfax, Va.

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]]>Melissa Kossler DuttonFri, 10 Dec 2010 10:00:00 ESTOnline Dating Service Involves Jewish Mothers Because, Really, Is It Such a Crime to Ask for Help?http://www.parentdish.com/2010/12/03/online-dating-service-involves-jewish-mothers-because-really-i/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/12/03/online-dating-service-involves-jewish-mothers-because-really-i/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/12/03/online-dating-service-involves-jewish-mothers-because-really-i/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Jewish mothers photo

Such a nice boy ... Illustration by Dori Hartley

Tzeitel: But Mama, the men she finds. The last one was so old and he was bald. He had no hair.

Golde: A poor girl without a dowry can't be so particular. You want hair, marry a monkey.

-- "Fiddler on the Roof"

All your mother wants to do is help you find a nice Jewish boy so that -- God willing -- she can have some grandchildren before she dies.

Is that so much for a poor old woman who has done so much for you to ask?

Jewish mothers now have help in meddling with their children's love lives, with TheJMom.com, an online yente, you might say. The site streamlines this dating business by cutting out the middle man (or woman) and dealing directly with the parents.

You don't sign up for the online dating service -- your Jewish parent does. Mom screens all the suitors and makes all the preliminary arrangements -- with the help of other Jewish mothers, of course.

The new site, which has only been up and running since Nov. 30, already has 69 users, founder Brad Weisberg, 30, of Chicago tells ParentDish.

A quick search for available Jewish women in New York City turned up just two prospects. And, we're just guessing here, but there are probably more than two eligible Jewish women within 100 miles of New York City.

But give the site time Weisberg, who started the site with his little sister, Danielle, 26, says.

"It was her idea, but it was brought about by our mother and our own dating experiences," he tells ParentDish.

Both Weisberg and his sister were on online dating sites, and their mother, Barbara, kept wanting to see their prospects. They finally let her take a peek.

"An hour later, she had a list of names," he says.

The proverbial light bulb went off above Danielle Weisberg's head.

"Moms have been setting up their children for centuries," she says in a press release. "We've made it simple for Mom to get online and start hand-picking her son or daughter's next date."

You don't have to be a Jewish mother to sign up for the site, Brad Weisberg tells ParentDish, but it helps. The site is geared to promote networking among parents. Individuals seeking romance for themselves should probably stick to other dating sites, he says.

The Weisbergs have been promoting the new site through Chicago-area synagogues, Facebook and Twitter. And yes, both siblings are on the site.

"Their social life is good and healthy, but I know that meeting new friends in the big city is not easy," Barbara Weisberg tells other parents on the site. "It's more comfortable to be with kids raised in a similar Jewish background."

Other mothers are getting involved too, Brad Weisberg says.

One of the two Jewish mothers to come up in a search of New York is Betty Rubenstein, who, along with her husband, lives in Fort Myers, Fla. They're looking for a match for their 26-year daughter, Marissa, who lives in Manhattan where she works as a teacher and voice-over artist. She is conservative and a "great catch."

Why is Marissa a great catch?

You'll just have to log on to get more information. You also can learn more about Marissa's interests and what she's looking for in a significant other (at least according to her mom).

Marissa might be a match for Elijah, 25, apparently the only Jewish boy in New York City at the moment. His mother, Clara, (she doesn't give their last name) says he comes from "a nice, fun-loving, dedicated Jewish family."

Like Marissa, Elijah is conservative and lives in Manhattan. He works as a legal consultant and is interested in music, literature, traveling and charity.

"He is wonderful young guy," his mother assures other mothers. "He loves children and he is working for a prospering law firm."

As for what he's looking for in a significant other, Clara says he wants "something special."

Such a nice boy.

"More parents are recognizing that making connections online can lead to love offline," Danielle Weisberg says in the release. "TheJMom.com puts parents behind the keyboard and lets them do the clicking and the matching."

Jewish mothers accessing the site just need to enter an e-mail address, choose a password and fill out information about themselves and their child.

And if they do it now, they can get a year's free membership. Sort of. It expires at the end the month.

Stop rolling your eyes. Your mother only wants what's best for you. If that's a crime, well, guilty as charged.

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]]>jewish mothersjewish online datingJewishMothersJewishOnlineDatingonline datingOnlineDatingTom HendersonFri, 03 Dec 2010 12:00:00 ESTChristmas for the Non-Religious is About Love, Peace and the Right to Believe in Just Thathttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/12/02/christmas-for-the-non-religious-is-about-love-peace-and-the-rig/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/12/02/christmas-for-the-non-religious-is-about-love-peace-and-the-rig/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/12/02/christmas-for-the-non-religious-is-about-love-peace-and-the-rig/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Dori Christmas

Holiday spirit doesn't have to be religious. Illustration by Dori Hartley


It's a balmy 80 degrees down here in South Florida, and my daughter and I have decided tonight's the big night: We're going to put up the Christmas tree!

With Thanksgiving behind us, we feel the spirit is on now, and all we can say is, "Bring it!"

I will slide the patio doors open and hit the storage closet, from which she and I will haul out the box that contains our 5-foot tall, plastic Canadian fir, along with bags of ornaments, garland and strings of tiny, shiny multi-colored lights.

And, just like it's done in so many American households, we're going to make the experience a festive one. This means that, as we trim our tree, we're going to sing, laugh and, in our case, sweat like pigs, crank the AC and guzzle down a pitcher of icy cold lemonade (insert extra lip smacking for emphasis, please).

When we're finished, we'll fall back into the couch, pat ourselves on the backs for a job well done and smile contentedly as the miniature lights glow within their little nests of silver garland. We'll be as happy as elves, dressed in our tank tops and shorts, and though it's far from a winter wonderland here in the tropics, it works for us. And isn't that what matters?

The holiday season is all about family, love, awesome food and, of course, the giving and receiving of gifts. Whether you're devoted to the religious paths that accompany the origins of these holidays or not, one thing most of us have in common is a love for the good, warm atmosphere of holiday spirit.

So, the question is, "What is this spirit, if it's not religious?"

The spirit is love. For those of us who don't believe in religion, this is the top of the line. Love and peace are what we believe in. I would like to think this is a universal truth -- something that unites us all.

My daughter and I are non-religious. I was raised in New York City, where, every Christmas, my also non-religious parents would put up a beautiful, real tree for us kids. Reluctantly, my Russian-born, Zionist grandparents came to accept that, as a family, enjoying an annual bowl of matzo ball soup was about as Jewish as this second generation American gang was ever going to get.

Truth was, for third-generation me, I just couldn't get into any of it. Judaism, Taoism, Christianity, Hinduism, Paganism, Islam -- I studied them all. I took the good stuff from the good books, and added it to my list of "Things That Enhance My Life." The religions, though? Nah. Not for me.

As for my daughter, under the guidance of her father, she attended many, many Sunday church services. And, after several years of experiencing the teachings, rituals and community, she, too, came to the same conclusion about religion: "It's just not for me." Must be genetic.

My Zionist grandfather once said, "God is not in the business of religion." Those were pretty strong words, being that they came from a man who stowed away on a ship in order to escape religious persecution. But he held on to the tenets of his religion throughout his entire life, and, for this, I will always recognize him as a holy man. It didn't matter that I was destined for a different path. What mattered was that he found what he was looking for, in his own way.

There's a common misconception about people who are non-religious. We're not rebelling against religion, nor are we lost souls, waiting for redemption. In fact, it's quite the opposite. Every day, our hearts are filled to the brim with the gratitude we have for nature's gifts, for our lives together, for our beautiful animals, for our health and happiness.

When my daughter shoots me that secret smile that tells me all that's on her mind? That's when I know the meaning of love. When I push her hair behind her ear and gently kiss her forehead? That's when she knows the meaning of love. When, cats sitting by our sides, we all watch a movie together? That's when we know love.

Love is what we believe in. Love is all.

My kid and I don't need a religion to make us believe in what comes so naturally on its own. If you're religious and your faith lightens your load, then you are, indeed, in the presence of greatness. If your beliefs make you feel love, then more power to you. And, if you can embrace and respect a world built on difference and variety, then you are the love you seek.

Let me put it this way: If truth is beauty and beauty is in the eye of the beholder, then the road to truth is a personal path. For my daughter and me, that path is love. And, on this path, we respect the planet, animals, human intelligence, human spirituality, ourselves and everything that is different from us.

For some, the holidays come with a religious aspect. For others, it has nothing to do with religion, whatsoever. And, in the same way that my daughter and I still can have a great celebration without snow or hot chocolate, we also can enjoy the splendors of the holiday season without religion.

What's not to love?

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]]>christmasnon-religionreligionDori HartleyThu, 02 Dec 2010 10:00:00 ESTWomen-Only Swim Hour for Muslims Makes Waves on Campushttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/11/10/women-only-swim-hour-for-muslims-makes-waves-on-campus/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/11/10/women-only-swim-hour-for-muslims-makes-waves-on-campus/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/11/10/women-only-swim-hour-for-muslims-makes-waves-on-campus/#commentsFiled under: ,

diving picture

Credit: Matt Roth, Getty Images

Maybe Dara Torres could pull it off, but just try plunging into a pool and sprinting 100 to 200 meters in full-on hijab.

In an attempt to be inclusive to all religious traditions on campus, last week George Washington University started "Sisters' Splash," a ladies-only swim hour, according to the university newspaper, The GW Hatchet. The school's Lerner Health and Wellness Center closed the pool to men and covered the glass door with a dark tarp, giving female Muslim students the chance to swim at their leisure, while honoring the basic tenets of their religion.

Everything was going swimmingly, and coeds shed their head and body gear and rocked swimsuits, at least until scores of critics began hurling heated comments that continue to pour in on various blogs and news reports, according to the journal Inside Higher Education.

"Should a minuscule minority force the overwhelming majority to abide by their rules or should it be the other way around?" is one of the Internet comments about the female-only swim, the journal reports.

Others include: "Come on, folks. An hour a week -- what's the big deal?" "It's not an unreasonable request. 'Women' is like *half* the population."

Because George Washington is a private university, there should be no constitutional issues with the swim hour, Ayesha N. Khan, legal director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, tells Inside Higher Education.

"Should a similar program start up at a public university, the presence of church-state issues would depend on the many facts of the situation, such as whether access is religion-specific," Khan tells the journal.

Aliya Karim, social chair of the Muslim Students' Association (MSA) women's group, tells the student newspaper the organization made the effort to coordinate the swimming hour so fellow Muslims would feel comfortable in the pool.

"Personally, I would only want to go when just girls are there," Karim, who is also a Hatchet photographer, tells the newspaper.

Rahiba Noor, a junior who serves as the community service chair of the MSA, tells the newspaper that, prior to attending GW, swimming laps at a private pool was an important part of her health regimen. At school, however, Noor tells the student newspaper she's resigned herself to staying away from the water and using a treadmill.

"Religious values always define us," Noor tells the newspaper. "Although I wouldn't really mind, it would be satisfying to me religiously to swim only with girls."

For some Muslims, being in public without a hijab puts them at odds with fundamental aspects of Islam.

Valdez Williams, the operations manager of the gym, tells the newspaper the university helped the MSA coordinate the weekly swim hour because GW wanted to make the girls feel comfortable.

"At GW, we try to take care of all of our students," Williams tells the Hatchet. "As long as it's requested and works within our policies and procedures, we will generally accommodate them."

Williams says the university will try to schedule one hour each week for the female students to have private access.

"The girls should be able to swim here," Williams says. "We will not penalize them because of their religious beliefs."

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]]>hijabmuslimmuslim studentsmuslim womenMuslimStudentsMuslimWomenMary Beth SammonsWed, 10 Nov 2010 16:35:00 ESTComing of Age Ceremonies Transform 'The Curse' Into a Celebration Embracing Womanhoodhttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/10/20/coming-of-age-ceremonies-transform-the-curse-into-a-celebratio/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/10/20/coming-of-age-ceremonies-transform-the-curse-into-a-celebratio/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/10/20/coming-of-age-ceremonies-transform-the-curse-into-a-celebratio/#commentsFiled under: , ,

american indian ceremony picture

The Brave Heart Society believes that the transition to womanhood is something to be celebrated. Courtesy of The Brave Heart Society


Remember when the onset of your first period was a clandestine event marked by "the talk?" Your mom marched you to her closet where she had secretly stashed away a Kotex "starter" kit, offering vague instructions designed to smooth the transition to womanhood?

Later, you stuffed your soiled undies in the garbage and nearly died of embarrassment as you heard your mom declare to a friend on the phone: "My baby girl is a woman!"

That was probably the moment you understood why menstruation is often called "The Curse."

Well, good news: Our daughters have come a long way, baby. While we were dealing with PMS, sexual insecurities and popping Midol, a group of South Dakota women have revived and reinvented a centuries-old ritual that celebrates the blood, or how it lets womanhood shine.

The group, The Brave Heart Society, believes this rite of passage is a gift and created "Four Days, Nights: A Girls' Coming-Of-Age Ceremony" where, last month, five young girls raised a tepee on a grassy bank of the Missouri River on the Yankton Sioux/Ihanktonwan Oyate Reservation in South Dakota. They shared their story with the Kitchen Sisters.

The ritual marked the first day of the celebration for their womanhood.

"The Brave Heart society reconnects women and girls with the culture that was stolen from them, in the most powerful way possible," Olympic gold medalist and Running Strong for Indian Youth spokesman Billy Mills tells ParentDish. "By bringing back a once-vanished coming-of-age ceremony, Lakota, Dakota and Nakota women are reclaiming what's theirs. Girls in Indian country face many challenges, but the Brave Heart Society reminds us that while many of our communities are economically very poor, we remain culturally very rich."

Now in its 14th year, it turns out the group's ceremonies that model empowering womanhood with "coming of age" rituals are an ancient idea that was shoved under the proverbial carpet in the pre-June Cleaver "let's not tell anyone" '50s, '60s and '70s eras.

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Young women participate in a four-day ceremony called Isnati Awicadowanpi. Courtesy of The Brave Heart Society

The ceremony, also called Isnati Awicadowanpi, was almost completely lost to Dakota women until recently, but was pieced together through interviews with the elders and grandmothers who recreated it.

"I was part of the first group who went through this Isnati coming-of-age ceremony 13 years ago," one of the teenage participants tells NPR, referring to the first year in recent history that the ancient ritual was revived and reinvented.

With American and European contact, many such societies and ceremonies have been lost in the past 100 years. In 1994, Brave Hearts interviewed grandmothers from three states about what they remembered of the Isnati Awicadowanpi coming-of-age ceremony and replicated the ceremony for their daughters and granddaughters.

"In the old days," one of the Brave Heart members tells NPR, "as soon as a girl had her first moon, her menses, she would immediately be isolated from the rest of the camp and begin a four-day ceremony where she was taught by other women. So we symbolically set up one camp a year and have the girls come in for four days."

"At times, we have a nutritionist come in and talk to them about eating right and not just drinking Gatorade, about not being afraid of doctors and having to get a check-up," Brook Spotted Eagle says. "Sexual abuse and incest can pose a huge problem within families. There's no easy way to talk about these issues, so you just have to get them out there. And we're always talking about this concept of a camp circle. We can't be attacking each other and doing this mean girls stuff."

Since it was reclaimed and reinvented 13 years ago, almost 90 teenage girls have experienced this rite of passage.

These days, manufacturers, including Kotex, are embracing a shift of consciousness surrounding the start of cycling for young girls. Modern period starter kits are branded "OMG I got my period," and Kotex launched two online communities, one called Girlspace for girls to talk about their "periods, boys, shoes and whatever ... and share tips for pads or tampons," and The Ladies Room where moms and daughters can share their thoughts and feelings about this passage.

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]]>first periodFirstPeriodmenstruationmenstruation ceremonyMenstruationCeremonyrite of passageRiteOfPassageMary Beth SammonsWed, 20 Oct 2010 12:00:00 ESTOpinion: Muslim Superhero Cartoon Does Not Signal the End of Timeshttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/10/14/opinion-muslim-superhero-cartoon-does-not-signal-the-end-of-tim/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/10/14/opinion-muslim-superhero-cartoon-does-not-signal-the-end-of-tim/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/10/14/opinion-muslim-superhero-cartoon-does-not-signal-the-end-of-tim/#commentsFiled under: ,

Children's entertainment is fertile ground for political fulminating. Add Islam into the mix, and you've got a recipe for world-class outrage.

Today's cause for hysteria? "The 99," a new animated series featuring Muslim superheroes. Based on a comic book of the same name, the show will air on The Hub, a new channel co-owned by Hasbro and Discovery.



New York Post columnist Andrea Peyser writes that the cartoon is part of a religious conspiracy designed to "indoctrinate" our children into Islam.

C'mon. Seriously?

No one is trying to indoctrinate anyone. "The 99" does indeed feature superheroes based in part on Islamic principles. In this video, Dr. Naif al-Mutawa says he created the series for both social and business reasons.



Business reasons? That's right. There are, al-Mutawa says, at least 1.5 billion people in the world who practice Islam. That's a big market, and one that is under-served by mostly white superheroes such as Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman.

Don't get me wrong. I have nothing against those white superheroes. But exploring emerging markets is something good businesspeople do all the time.

That doesn't sound like indoctrination to me. It sounds like capitalism.

But if indoctrination is what you seek, boy, have I got a show for you.

Peyser quotes an article by Family Security Matters claiming that it's "doubtful" we will see any Christian superheroes on TV.

They must not be familiar with "Bibleman," a live-action series starring Willie Aames that ran on cable for several years. Bibleman carries a Bible (natch) and sports a "helmet of salvation" and "breastplate of righteousness." In this clip, he tells kids that becoming a Christian is "very easy," adding that they should "encourage" their friends to join the faith, so "they can spend eternity with you, and God, in Heaven."



Oh no! Indoctrination! Right? Outrage? Hello? Anyone?

Actually, yawn. No big deal. Just change the channel.

The reason I never watched "Bibleman" with my kids is not because of the show's religious messages. We avoided it because it stunk. Which brings us to the most important point of all.

One the most popular cartoons in my house is "Static Shock." The main character is African-American, but that's not why my kids watch it. They watch it for the same reason they watch the adventures of Batman, Superman or any other show: Because they like it.

Anyone who truly believes "The 99" is part of a nefarious plot to steal the minds of our youth, needs to remember just how many youth entertainment choices there are. The days of three channels are long gone. If kids don't like "The 99," they aren't going to watch it.

But let's say "The 99" becomes a hit. There is another way to avoid exposing your children to super-powered Muslims, or anything else you don't want them to see. It's a very radical idea. Some might call it un-American.

Are you ready? Here it is.

Turn off the TV.

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]]>BiblemanhasbroislammuslimmuslimsNaif al-MutawaNaifAl-mutawastatic shockStaticShocksuperherosuperheroestelevisionThe 99the hubThe99TheHubBrett SingerThu, 14 Oct 2010 16:30:00 ESTDisney Grants Muslim Worker Right to Wear Headscarf (Under Wraps)http://www.parentdish.com/2010/10/01/disney-grants-muslim-worker-right-to-wear-headscarf-under-wraps/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/10/01/disney-grants-muslim-worker-right-to-wear-headscarf-under-wraps/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/10/01/disney-grants-muslim-worker-right-to-wear-headscarf-under-wraps/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


"When you wish upon a star ... " seems to have worked its magic for a Muslim college student employed by Disneyland who has been granted her wish to wear her hijab to work -- if she promises to wear a beret over the headdress.

After the Council on American-Islamic relations stepped in, the mega theme park reached a compromise with Noor Abdallah, a psychology major at the University of Illinois in Chicago. After initially refusing to let her wear her blue religious scarf, Disney gave the go-ahead, if she wears it under a beret, The Chicago Tribune reports.

The Muslim rights group stepped in when Abdallah, hired as a vacation planner intern, was told she would have to work in the stock room.

Abdallah, 22, of Mundelein, Illinois, grew up admiring Disney princesses such as Belle from "Beauty and the Beast," and Ariel from "The Little Mermaid." So, when the theme park banned her from wearing her hijab, "It broke my heart a little," she tells the Tribune.

"Walt Disney Parks and Resorts has a long history of accommodating a variety of religious requests from cast members of all faiths, with more than 200 accommodations made over the last three years," Disneyland Resort spokeswoman Suzi Brown tells the newspaper.

But Abdallah says she is pleased with the solution.

"I'd really hate to see another person lose the magic behind the Disney characters," she tells the Tribune.

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]]>disneylandhijabMary Beth SammonsFri, 01 Oct 2010 14:15:00 ESTInterview With a Witch Momhttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/09/20/interview-with-a-witch-mom/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/09/20/interview-with-a-witch-mom/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/09/20/interview-with-a-witch-mom/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Wiccan witch mother

Feri witch Lillitu Shahar Kunning and her son, Rowan. Credit: Lillitu Shahar Kunning

When clips of Delaware Republican Senate nominee Christine O'Donnell telling "Politically Incorrect" host Bill Maher that she once dabbled in witchcraft surfaced, we wondered, can a politician be a witch?

Lillitu Shahar Kunning, blogger at Witch Mom, doesn't see a problem with it. The Feri witch sheds some moonlight on her religion, and says society's understanding of her life is akin to believing the word "yellow" simply means the color of the brick road, a definition as narrow as the point on a witch's hat.

ParentDish spoke with Shahar Kunning, mother to son Rowan, 6 months, about what it's like to be a witch and a mom. We assume that's pretty close to being a witch and a politician. An edited version of our interview with her follows.

ParentDish: So witches are in the news at the moment. What do you think about the Christine O'Donnell uproar? Is it possible to be a politician and a witch?
Lillitu Shahar Kunning: Oy! I don't want to claim Christine O'Donnell. It's kind of like when Sen. Larry Craig was caught in that airport bathroom. No gay person wanted to claim him, either. Actually, I haven't seen the old footage from Bill Maher, but from what I understand, she was a dabbler, not an actual witch with religious principles.

PD: Yeah, she's not a mom, either, so we can't help her. Speaking of which, congratulations on the birth of your son, Rowan. We read on your blog that he was born on the auspicious night of the Wolf Moon.
LSK: He was conceived on Beltaine, which is May Day, aka May 1st, the previous year, in a ritual setting. So we hyper-planned for Rowan to come and he came on the Wolf Moon, which is appropriate because one of the Gods we invoked while we were conceiving him was the Lord of Wolves. When he was born, we found it really funny because he had gray fur all over his back and on his legs. We were like, "Oh, he's a little wolf cub!"

Continue reading Interview With a Witch Mom

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]]>alternative parentingAlternativeParentingreligionwitchwitchcraftDori HartleyMon, 20 Sep 2010 13:26:00 ESTChristening Invitations: Online Resourceshttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/13/christening-invitations/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/13/christening-invitations/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/13/christening-invitations/#commentsFiled under: ,


Invite family and friends to your baby's christening with sweet invitations. Credit: Getty


The baptism, or christening, of a baby often is the first major milestone in the life of a child in many Christian families and, like other milestones, is shared with friends and family.

There's much to plan and celebrate, but new parents don't have a lot of time to spend shopping for the perfect christening invitations. Online providers make things easy, though. Whether traditional or modern, there is a christening invitation available that's just right for your baby, no matter your budget.

Here are some of our favorite designs.

Royal in Blue: The Regal Monogram christening invitation from tiny*prints is an eye-catching navy blue card with white type, including a lovely monogram featuring your baby's first initial. Pricing ranges between about $1 and $2 per invitation, depending on quantity. Tiny*prints offers a direct mailing option for a fee, and parents can even manage RSVPs on the company's site -- both welcome extra features for busy new parents.


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]]>baptismbaptism invitationschristeningchristening invitationsparent-dishreligionHolly QuinnFri, 13 Aug 2010 10:04:00 EST